Okay so for the balance of this January trip the following things come to mind. Being based in Beacon Hill we decided to check out the Super market at the Maho Plaza off the traffic island. Though we normally just buy Breakfast, Snacks, Beer and Wine, we were pleasantly surprised at the volume and variety of this location. Being on vacation we really don’t worry about shopping around for bargains like we do at home. It was close/convenient and reasonably enough priced for us. The added bonus was the availability of half and half for coffee. This can sometimes be difficult to find on the Island.
Having read about the Stone Restaurant in the Atrium up Billy Foley road where your entrée comes sizzling on a slab of volcanic rock, we decided it too would be a new place to have dinner. Having scouted it out in advance in the daylight, which I highly recommend, I phoned there before we left to ask about the parking. It was suggested we park at the Casino across from there or around at the Red Piano where we ended up just having to walk a bit back. Go in the Atrium and down in the elevator to the Restaurant. It is small on the inside where we ate with only a few tables. The outside terrace of course is large but there were numerous folks smoking out there that night so we opted to go in.
We had the place to ourselves for most of our dinning time. We thoroughly enjoyed our dinners starting out with a Cheese Fondue Appetizer for two. I had a steak and Patti ordered . As advertised they came on stones sizzling. That particular evening the entertainment was a Guitarist Jim Spector who was absolutely incredible. I thought I was listening to an Andre Segovia recording until I turned around to see this guy just outside on the patio. He was so talented it would have been worthwhile to sit there just drinking and listening. He had some CD’s for sale and we bought one to take home to add to our Dinner Party Collection!
I don’t recall the specific prices for dinner but it was reasonable and the food was excellent!!
Another first for us was Captain Oliver’s Saturday Night Buffet. Though we have dined there before, it was not for the Buffet. The food was simply awesome as often indicated on this board before, a hip of beef, whole roast turkey, lobster etc. etc. We liked the musical group providing the entertainment as well. We will definitely go back there for the buffet. Two Guests brought dogs despite signage to the contrary and though they did not bother us, it was funny to note the horrified wait staff attempting to shoo the hounds and their owners away from the buffet table. More on Dogs later.
One night coming out of Bajatzu we had our only Celebrity Sighting, LOL, running into Jack and Linda of Peg Leg Pete’s fame on their way to Brother Jimmy’s for dinner. As I had picked up some Old Port Cigarillos for Shawn that reminded us we had better get over to Peg Legs. In driving in there the grounds of Port Deplesance seemed to me to be better lit up than previous years. We went in and received the typical familiar greeting from our good friend we have had for years.
This year, after receiving drinks and menus, I noticed Shawn returning to our table in hysterics delivering me a lightweight plastic bag. Carefully packaged inside were empty Lobster Tail Shells which my Daughter had arranged with Shawn to deliver earlier when she was there in November. Weird inside family joke that has been going on for years. Anyway the filet was excellent as always, though we were a bit disappointed with the Coconut Shrimp. The service was top notch and was jointly conducted by Shawn’s younger Brother Ricardo who is now working there as well.
Finally got to Pinel Island which we really enjoyed with a great lunch at Karabunis. The Beach reminded us of Shoal Bay on Anquilla which Patti prefers being calm waters though much easier to get to. We will return there as well.
Last mention of Restaurants was a Breakfast on our last day at the 3 Palms which was okay but a bit slow given we were the only folks there and last and least was the petrified hot dog at Mr. Busbys for lunch one day. I normally would have sent it back but it would have required a longer stay as it was busy and as it was a bit slow to begin with, my patience was finished. I know it’s a Beach Restaurant but so is Karabunis and Andy and Cheryls. It was not our first time there but I wouldn’t be in a hurry to go back though the view is nice.
As for Dogs, Patti brings the Milk Bone Dog Treats and is accordingly popular with the furry inhabitants of the Island. We dropped in to the Hill Top Gift Shops on the main road across from Orient Bay to say hello To Bernadine Ali who runs the Island Liquour Stand there. She accepts donations for the food and care of abandoned Dogs and Cats in lieu of tasting island liquours. We also had a regular stop thru the Golf Course on the way to the Atlantis Casino each night. Just off the last Golf Green on the right before the Casino there is a small knoll/hill there and every night there were a couple of pooches sitting there so if you drove by the car with the hazards on, it was me waiting for St. Francis the 2nd to come back to the car!!
I guess I have gone on long enough, so to wrap up, saw nor heard of any problems/crime anywhere other than the cow/bull accidents. No DUI Checkpoints anywhere on the French side. We took 2/3s of our travel budget in Amex Travellers Checks and were only refused twice, once in Grand Case at a small clothing shop and another time at a small shop on Front Street in Phillipsburg. We ensured we had cash backup in any case and knew better than to try them with any of the Market Vendors on either side of the Island.
Bummer too on the Air Fuel Shortage on St. Maarten as our Westjet Flight had to go via Puerto Rico for fuel first before departing for Toronto. Got in line at Princess Juliana at 12:15 p.m. to check in and drove out of the Toronto Airport at 12:15 a.m.
As they say from the Bathroom Readers Institute, “go with the flow” till next year, see ya!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />
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